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Brendan Rodgers has challenged Jordan Henderson to use Wednesday's Capital One Cup tie at West Bromwich Albion as an opportunity to stake his claim for regular first-team action.

Henderson has made five appearances for Liverpool so far this season, though only one of them has been in the Barclays Premier League when he was introduced as a second-half substitute against Manchester United on Sunday.

The 22-year-old is likely to figure at the Hawthorns, however, and Rodgers has urged Henderson to show him what he's capable of.

"It is about the balance in the team. We have got one controlling midfielder in Joe Allen," explained the boss.

"We have got Steven Gerrard, who is a great player and speaks for himself. He has got a goal in him, he has got influence and he has got stature. He carries his qualities on the field. Then we have got Jonjo [Shelvey], who is a goalscoring midfielder.

"But Jordan is working his socks off every day. He has got a great appetite to learn; he lives his life right and he doesn't do stupid things off the pitch. He works hard, he works well. Really it is just games like [Wednesday's] that offer me the opportunity to see him.

"Can he affect the game going forward but play also with that tactical discipline, which keeps us nice and strong in the middle of midfield?"